Transfer mechanism



Oct. 18, 1960 R. T. B. DAVISON 2,956,747

TRANSFER MECHANISM Filed Dec. 12, 1955 INVENTOR Aoamr TB. DA V/SON W WFM ATTO RNEYJ TRANSFER MECHANISM Robert T. B. Davison, Concord, Mass.,assignor, by mesne assignments, to American Machine and Metals, Inc.,New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 12, 1955, Ser. No.552,377

3 Claims. (Cl. 235-140) This invention relates to revolution counters orthe like and more particularly to an improved transfer mechanism for thenumber Wheels of such a counter.

Revolution counters or number wheels are used for numerous purposes suchas, for example, counting the numbers of operations of a dispenser or ofa machine. In such a counter, a plurality of number Wheels are usedcorresponding to units, tens, hundreds, etc. The units or digits wheelis moved one step for each operation to be counted. Transfer mechanismis provided between the wheels for successively moving the same. As anexample, each time the digits wheel completes a revolution, the tenswheel will be moved one step and each time the tens wheel completes arevolution, the hundreds wheel will be moved one step. It is desirableto be able to construct such a counter from simple inexpensive parts.Prior arrangements for transferring movement of a first Wheel to asecond wheel a limited amount each time a first wheel has completed arevolution has not had the desired simplicity of construction.

An object of this invention is to provide a simple transfer mechanismfor a mechanical counter.

In one aspect of the invention, a plurality of number wheels may berotatably mounted upon a shaft, nonrotatable separating plates beingprovided between the number Wheels, each plate having an aperturetherein of limited length. The driving or first number wheel may berotated by an actuating lever or other means, said driving wheel beingarranged to move a second or driven wheel a limited amount or step eachtime the driving Wheel has moved a predetermined distance. For example,the units or first wheel may drive the tens or next wheel one step ordigit for each complete revolution of the units wheel. Similarly, thetens wheel can be arranged to drive the hundreds wheel one step or digiteach time the tens wheel makes a complete revolution. In order toaccomplish the driving of one wheel from the adjoining Wheel, one of thewheels may have a projection capable of engaging the adjacent numberwheel through the aperture of said separating plate, so as to index theadjacent wheel one unit.

Other objects, advantages and features of the invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description and drawings which aremerely exemplary.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view;

Fig. 2 is an elevation partially in section through a dispensingmechanism with which the counter might be employed;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

As one example of one use of the invention, a beverage dispenser isshown generally at (Fig. 2), which is adapted to be fitted or lockedupon the neck of a bottle or container, the dispenser being of the typethat is inverted when it is desired to dispense a measured quantity. Thedetails of such a dispenser are described in coto States Patent Ofiice2,956,747 Patented Oct. 18, 1960 pending application Serial No. 552,498,filed December 15, 1955, now Patent No. 2,883,086. It is to beunderstood that the invention can be used for other dispensing devicesand for numerous other purposes.

An outlet 11 is provided at the top of the dispenser, the flow fromchamber 14 in the upper part of the dispenser being controlled by outletvalve 12.

When the bottle is inverted, valve 15 remains locked open by trigger 15Awhile chamber 14 fills. Float 13A is arranged to release trigger 15A sothat weight 13 can move by gravity to open outlet valve 12. Valve 15then will close orifice 17 so as to prevent draining the bottle. Eachtime the dispenser is returned to an upright position after having beeninverted and dispensing a measured quantity, valve 15 moves and actuatescounter 19 to record the dispensing operation.

In the form shown, counter 19 is operated by actuating lever 20operatively attached to valve 15, end 21 of lever 20 being carried ingroove 22 of valve 15. Pawl 8 (Figs. 1, 4) and ratchet wheel 9 may beprovided so that the counter will be actuated only by downward movementsof the valve. A suitable window 23 (Fig. 3) is provided in the casingfor reading the counter.

The three counter wheels including units wheel 25, tens wheel 26 andhundreds wheel 27 are rotatably mounted upon shaft 28, which can bejournalled at pivot 24 in a wall of the housing, spring 29 beingprovided to bias number wheels 26 and 27 toward Wheel 25, and wheel 25toward actuating lever 20.

Intermediate the ends of actuating lever 20 is a short lug 30 having asloping face 30A, the lug being adapted to contact projections orabutments 31 on the units wheel 25 so as to index or step the same. Pins31 are evenly spaced in a circular arrangement on the side of primarycounter wheel 25 facing the actuating lever. Each time lug 30 is moveddownwardly, its flat bottom surface engages one of the pins 31 andindexes the primary wheel 25 one step. When the actuating lever and lugare returned upwardly, however, the sloped edge of the lug rides overthe pin that previously had been engaged in order that the flat bottomsurface of the lug can then engage the next pin. Reverse movement of theprimary counter wheel is prevented by pawl or spring 8, which engagesteeth 9 of units wheel 25.

As seen in Fig. 1, contiguous to counter wheels 26 and 27 are thin, fiatseparating plates 35, 36 respectively, each plate having an aperture 39therein of an extent approximately equal to the number of degreesbetween two adjacent numerals on a counter wheel. Units wheel 25 and thetens counter wheel 26 have small pointed projections 37 and 38 (Fig. 3),respectively, each projection being arranged to project through aperture39 when opposite thereto. Each counter wheel 26 and 27 has a series ofprojection-receiving apertures 40 (Fig. 1) on the side facing counterwheels 25 and 26, respectively, these apertures being evenly spaced andalso being located at approximately the same radial distance from theshaft 28 as the aperture or limited slot 39 in each of the separatingplates. It should be evident that the projections and apertures could bereversed in their location on the Wheels. It should also be evident thatthe projections could engage suitable abutments (not shown) on thecooperating wheel instead of apertures 40.

The apertures 40 in the counter wheels are properly related in theirplacement to the digits on the faces of the number wheels. As projection37 of the units wheel is rotated while it projects through the aperturein separating plate 35 once each revolution, said projection will engageone of the apertures 40 on the side of the next number wheel so as toindex the next wheel One number or unit, the limited length of theaperture being made such as to permit the desired movement. In a similarmanner, projection 38 of the second Wheel can engage the apertures ofthe third wheel 27, so that it can appropriately index wheel 27 onenumber each complete revolution of the second wheel. As mentioned, theapertures in the separating plates are of such limited arcuate lengththat the second and third wheels will be indexed only one number or stepat a time.

It is to be understood that variations may be made in detail of theconstruction Without departing from the spirit of the invention exceptas defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a counter mechanism, the combination including a shaft, arotatable driven wheel axially movable on said shaft, a second rotatablewheel axially movable on said shaft, a non-rotatable separatorbetweensaid Wheels and axially movable on said shaft, said separator having anaperture of restricted angular length, a rigid projection fixedlymounted on one of said wheels, means on the other of said wheelsengageable by said projection when said projection extends through saidaperture to turn said secondwheel, said second wheel turning a limitedangular distance for each predetermined greater angular movement of saiddriven wheel, the angular distance which the second wheel turns beingdetermined by the length of the aperture, and means at one end of saidshaft urging the wheels and the separator together so that theprojection will extend through said aperture to turn said second wheel.

2. In a counter mechanism, the combination including a driven numberwheel rotatable about an axis having a rigid fixedly mounted axiallyextending projection on one of its surfaces, a second number wheelrotatable about said axis having a plurality of circumferentially spacedprojection receiving means on the surface facing said projection bearingsurface of the driven wheel, a non-rotatable separator between saidwheels having an aperture therein, and means urging said wheels andseparator together, so that when said driven wheel turns a predeterminedangular distance, the projection will enter said aperture and engage oneof the projection receiving means to turn the second wheel a lesserangular distance, the degree of angular movement of said second wheelbeing determined by the angular length of the aperture.

3. In a counter mechanism, the combination including a shaft, arotatable driven number wheel axially movable on said shaft and having arigid fixedly mounted axially extending projection on one of itssurfaces, a second rotatable number wheel axially movable on said shaftand having a plurality of eircumferentialiy spaced projection receivingholes on the surface facing said projection bearing surface of thedriven wheel, said holes being tapered oppositely to the projection, anon-rotatable separator between said wheels and axially movable on saidshaft, said separator having an aperture therein, means at one end ofsaid shaft urging the said wheels and separator together, so that whensaid driven wheel'turns a predetermined angular distance theprojectionwill enter the aperture and engage one of the holes to turnthe second wheel a lesser angular distance, the degree of angularmovement of the second Wheel being determined by the angular length ofthe aperture, and means including a pawl and ratchet arrangement fordriving said driven Wheel a predetermined amount for each operationbeing counted.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS121,687 Teasdale Dec. 5, 1871 248,130 Beranek Oct. 11, 1881 333,145Monroe et al Dec. 29, 1885 7 432,441 Ruhlman Iuly 15, 1890 792,410Gilbert June 13, 1905 1,009,886 Von Bechtolshein Nov. 28, 1911 1,600,766Larson Sept. 21, 1926 1,881,580 Hodge Oct. 11, 1932

